Claire Coulondre1, Robin Souron2, Alexandre Rambaud3, Étienne Dalmais1, Loïc Espeit3, Thomas Neri4, Alban Pinaroli5, Gilles Estour5, Guillaume Y Millet6, Thomas Rupp7, Léonard Feasson8, Pascal Edouard8, Thomas Lapole9. 1. Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology (LIBM), University of Savoie-Mont Blanc, EA 7424, 73000 Chambéry, France; Centre d'évaluation et de prévention articulaire (CEPART), 73490 Challes-les-Eaux, France; Centre d'orthopédie et de traumatologie du sport, 73000 Bassens, France. 2. Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Étienne, Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology, EA 7424, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France; Laboratory of impact of physical activity on health (IAPS), UR n(o)201723207F, University of Toulon, Toulon, France. 3. Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Étienne, Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology, EA 7424, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France. 4. Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Étienne, Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology, EA 7424, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France; Department of orthopaedic surgery, university hospital of Saint Étienne, Faculty of medicine, Saint-Étienne, France. 5. Médipôle de Savoie, 73190 Challes-les-Eaux, France. 6. Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Étienne, Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology, EA 7424, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France; Institut universitaire de France (IUF), France. 7. Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology (LIBM), University of Savoie-Mont Blanc, EA 7424, 73000 Chambéry, France. 8. Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Étienne, Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology, EA 7424, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France; Department of clinical and exercise physiology, sports medicine and myology units, regional institute of medicine and sports engineering (IRMIS), University hospital of Saint-Étienne, Faculty of medicine, Saint-Étienne, France. 9. Université de Lyon, UJM-Saint-Étienne, Inter-university laboratory of human movement biology, EA 7424, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France. Electronic address: thomas.lapole@univ-st-etienne.fr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), quadriceps strength must be maximised as early as possible. OBJECTIVES: We tested whether local vibration training (LVT) during the early post-ACLR period (i.e., ∼10 weeks) could improve strength recovery. METHODS: This was a multicentric, open, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. Thirty individuals attending ACLR were randomised by use of a dedicated Web application to 2 groups: vibration (standardised rehabilitation plus LVT, n=16) or control (standardised rehabilitation alone, n=14). Experimenters, physiotherapists and participants were not blinded. Both groups received 24 sessions of standardised rehabilitation over ∼10 weeks. In addition, the vibration group received 1 hour of vibration applied to the relaxed quadriceps of the injured leg at the end of each rehabilitation session. The primary outcome - maximal isometric strength of both injured and non-injured legs (i.e., allowing for limb asymmetry measurement) - was evaluated before ACLR (PRE) and after the 10-week rehabilitation (POST). RESULTS: Seven participants were lost to follow-up, so data for 23 participants were used in the complete-case analysis. For the injured leg, the mean (SD) decrease in maximal strength from PRE to POST was significantly lower for the vibration than control group (n=11, -16% [10] vs. n=12, -30% [11]; P=0.0045, Cohen's d effect size=1.33). Mean PRE-POST change in limb symmetry was lower for the vibration than control group (-19% [11] vs. -29% [13]) but not significantly (P=0.051, Cohen's d effect size=0.85). CONCLUSION: LVT improved strength recovery after ACLR. This feasibility study suggests that LVT applied to relaxed muscles is a promising modality of vibration therapy that could be implemented early in ACLR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02929004.
BACKGROUND: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), quadriceps strength must be maximised as early as possible. OBJECTIVES: We tested whether local vibration training (LVT) during the early post-ACLR period (i.e., ∼10 weeks) could improve strength recovery. METHODS: This was a multicentric, open, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. Thirty individuals attending ACLR were randomised by use of a dedicated Web application to 2 groups: vibration (standardised rehabilitation plus LVT, n=16) or control (standardised rehabilitation alone, n=14). Experimenters, physiotherapists and participants were not blinded. Both groups received 24 sessions of standardised rehabilitation over ∼10 weeks. In addition, the vibration group received 1 hour of vibration applied to the relaxed quadriceps of the injured leg at the end of each rehabilitation session. The primary outcome - maximal isometric strength of both injured and non-injured legs (i.e., allowing for limb asymmetry measurement) - was evaluated before ACLR (PRE) and after the 10-week rehabilitation (POST). RESULTS: Seven participants were lost to follow-up, so data for 23 participants were used in the complete-case analysis. For the injured leg, the mean (SD) decrease in maximal strength from PRE to POST was significantly lower for the vibration than control group (n=11, -16% [10] vs. n=12, -30% [11]; P=0.0045, Cohen's d effect size=1.33). Mean PRE-POST change in limb symmetry was lower for the vibration than control group (-19% [11] vs. -29% [13]) but not significantly (P=0.051, Cohen's d effect size=0.85). CONCLUSION: LVT improved strength recovery after ACLR. This feasibility study suggests that LVT applied to relaxed muscles is a promising modality of vibration therapy that could be implemented early in ACLR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02929004.